The LOTW Diary- Friday

Milano Fallout

The debate rages on in cybertimdom whether GS made an almighty boob wie tactics and personnel or whether the result, while disappointing, was the best we can hope for playing against the cream of Europe.

Me, I’m in the middle but leaning towards it’s the best we can hope for. While saying that I glad we competed and I think we have shown that if we can cure the travel sickness we can compete and maybe trips to the last 16 will not be as rare as a Kenny Miller goal.

The seedings don’t lie. We snuck into the pot 2 this season but in reality we are a pot 3 team. A middle order European team, slightly behind the Benfica, Porto, PSV, Werder etc but ahead of yer Anderlect’s and Bucharest’s. The teams above us we will and can beat on any given day but they have developed a knack of taking points from the teams in the ranks above them and importantly away from home.

Bottomline is if you look at the UEFA cup we would be a guid side in there, a last 16 or even a ¼ final team. Teams would want to avoid us in that competition. Here in the CL we are termed by the big boys as also ran’s who on there day can upset but usually don’t.

The fact that Scotland is competing wie Romania, Belgium and the Ukraine for an extra CL spot says it all.

So how do we redress the balance? We can’t compete in terms of finance and economics. Bigger leagues attract better players and money talks. That is something that gets on ma goat and I hate using it as an excuse. Sometimes the trend is bucked- Porto- but that will only happen once every decade. Look at Porto now, a shadow of their former selves, their team plundered and pillaged after their successes.

But they are still decent. Homegrown talent and shrewd operating in their financial market place have allowed them- last year apart- to maintain their place in the middle order. This is what we must look at doing.

As Lenny said….

. "We had a very inexperienced side out there but they acquitted themselves very well. To record a clean sheet against that team takes some doing."

We will never be able to buy a fully-fledged Pirlo or Scholes. But we can buy potential that we can nurture and also can ensure we give oor youngsters the best possible coaching, facilities and knowledge to give them a chance of making it to CL level.

Oor team contained 3 players under 21- 2 of them from yoof system 3 altogether, though I think we should be aiming for a higher number than that- on Tuesday night. I wonder if any other team in Europe had that? It’s the way to go but one, which in the long term will still leave us in the middle order and maybe that’s where we are at and where we should always aim to be.

An Agents Moan.

Since all papers and meeja outlets gave the hoops grudging praise after oor draw wie Milano it was nice to see them all dig up a rent a quote agent who was willing to sell his soul to say all was not well doon parkhied.

John Sivebaek came oot wie this..

"As a player you have to accept the manager's decision and that is what Thomas is doing at this moment. We all know, though, a player at his level cannot accept the situation as it is for a long time.
"Thomas is still happy at Celtic, and has a contract with 21/2 years remaining, but things can change quickly in football."

Now, while there was a case for the Gravedigga to come on earlier against Milan, a case for him to have started the game is less watertight. As in many musings here, Tommy G has been hit, miss and miss again in the games he has played.

One of the main gripes regarding the Gravedigga is his seemingly lack of tactical nonce and discipline when following orders. A dug chasing a balloon springs to mind at times, when he is charging after the ball. Numerous occasions, GS has berated him during games for not following orders.

Now the performance and discipline of the Milano midfield the other night proves one of the reasons why this flexibility and discipline is needed in the modern game. You just canny be one type of midfielder you have to be able to play anywhere across that line and also follow orders.

Strangely enough, Jaro is more a modern midfielder than Tommy. Holding or attacking role and out wide he has proved he can do a joab but, again, the problem wie him is he is languid in his application to the game.

On Sunday I don’t think there is any danger that either of them will get a run in their favoured roles. Hartley will come in along side Lenny for the slog while Jaro might get a wee run up front or in the hole as a support striker. Tommy will be getting skelves in his arse.

Could just be that after 18 months without any soccer Tommy is struggling to adapt to the unique style of the Scottish game. Much like Jaro they have better technique then most opponents but at times seem lost at how to use it.

Both have much to offer to the hoops but whether both are around long enough to do it is another question. That depends I feel on Neil Lennon staying or going.

Up For The Cup In The Senkie.

Another early kick off. Another long trip north. Another blood and snotters type game to dine on after the succulent lamb we feasted on in the midweek. A trip to a team that has a 100% undefeated recorded against us in the Scottish Cup. A stadium that we always struggle.

Pampers anyone?

We are usually the makers of oor own doonfall against the senkie. We never play well, don’t keep the ball and we succumb to their harrying style. After the efforts in midweek oor limbs will be weary and minds could be not as sharp as they should be.

A few changes to freshen up the side could be made. Some will be hard on the youngsters who I think deserve to keep their place. Sno will make way for Hartley. ICT are no AC so there is no really any need for two defensive midfielders. O’Dea will return to the bench allowing the experience of Elvis to come in alongside Mick. We might also see Aiden making way for extra height so Jaro may be in wie a shout.

While earlier I stated we should be aiming for a class of young player that should adapt to CL level these players should also adapt to the domestic game. This should be no problem to them as they have been raised playing in the backwaters and against the hammer throwers. But there seems to be a general acceptance and a general will by us the support to see the experienced guys come back.

The bottom-line is we expect to win every game and sometimes youngsters, and especially after the heights of the other night, may not be physically and mentally ready for the match. Older pro’s have been here and done it before. Hartley and Elvis will be buzzing at the thought of coming back into the team and may give us need energy if we have a sluggish start. As could the re-introduction of Rioirdan if fit.

It’s a squad game nowadays. As the years roll by the experience will end up on young guys shoulders, I’m talking aboot 25 and 26 year olds. Now, at this point in time the experience comes in the form of guys in their thirties.

We need them to perform on Sunday.

Forza The Hoops, some who are worried aboot the cup and are calling in favours for Milano……